Legendary musician Chuck Negron doesn’t mind being quizzed about his fascinating career and the No. 1 records he helped create including Three Dog Night’s Joy To The World (Negron was lead vocalist on that forever favorite!). Good thing, because I cornered Negron, the former Three Dog Night member, for my podcast to discuss his journey in the world of rock and beyond.

Chuck Negron’s rock star status hasn’t always been cemented in stardust and glitter. The author of the best-selling autobiography Three Dog Nightmare is the first to admit that the road he has walked has been far from ordinary or easy. But these days, celebrating 25 years of recovery from addiction, Negron is in a great place and as creative as ever.

“Well you know, I think, kind of in a sense, secrets kill…you want to get those things out there that you’ve hid for many years…that’s kind of my philosophy,” says the rocker and mental health advocate. Negron’s name is even attached to a candy bar with sales benefitting Cri Help, Inc. a non-profit recovery center in North Hollywood.

While the artist is now immersed in a busy solo career that includes touring and writing, he’s happy to take time to reflect on the experience and the songs that propelled him to fame. “Joy To The World“, the 1970s Three Dog Night hit would contribute to Negron’s status as one of the most popular singers of the ’70s.

Of course, I have to ask the question that the lead vocalist has been hit with for decades— “How on earth did ‘Jeremiah was a bullfrog’ come to be?”

Negron doesn’t hesitate, and thankfully he doesn’t judge the questioner for asking him the question that he probably hears on a daily basis. He assures me that questions like these are a part of his life, just like the songs and lyrics are a part of ours. As far as our favorite amphibian goes— “Jeremiah was a bullfrog— that came from the imagination. You know, that was…something that just popped up,” laughs Negron.

And boy, once that frog leaped into our consciousness, he never left! “Joy to The World”, would become a forever favorite—linked to feature films like the 1983 classic The Big Chill, and most recently spotted in the 2016 animated comedy Sausage Party. That’s perfectly fine with Negron. “It’s a wonderful thing, this song has been an annuity,” the singer says, chuckling.

Negron appreciates the power of musical memories and the fans behind his success. And this year, in between updating his biography and finishing up Negron Generations, an album with his daughters, he’ll be revisiting those memories and making more when he hits the high seas for the ’70s Rock and Romance Cruise (March 11-16).

“You know as they like to say, ‘It’s a feel good voyage of a lifetime.’ And it really does take us back, especially the people there. But it takes all of us back, because I will be there watching my peers perform,” says Negron, who will be sharing stage time with other rock legends like Peter Frampton, America and Little River Band.

Land or sea, Negron is busier than ever and seems to be in a great place, albeit an ever-changing one. “For the most part, my life is blessed and I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying performing more than I can ever remember. The traveling is a little tedious, but you know, it’s part of what I do.” The life of a rock star is rarely static.